Travis County DA sues Texas to fight controversial Texas Mutual Ins. Co. contract’s release
Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg is suing to block the release of records about a controversial agreement that allows a giant insurance company to pay her office more than $400,000 a year to investigate the insurer’s fraud cases.
The American-Statesman and the Texas Tribune requested the records under the Texas Public Information Act as part of a months-long investigation of the government prosecutors’ unusual and chummy relationship with Texas Mutual Insurance Co.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said last month that Travis County must turn over the records, and now Lehmberg has filed a lawsuit in an attempt to reverse his decision. In the petition, Lehmberg argues in part that her office and Texas Mutual share a “privity of interest” in the prosecution of the company’s fraud cases.
Citing exceptions to transparency laws that shield certain records of third parties or private companies working with the government, Lehmberg claims that even records of negotiations over the public contract with the insurer must remain secret.
Read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/crime-law/district-attorney-fights-release-of-controversial-/nn2jq/?icmp=statesman_internallink_referralbox_free-to-premium-referral
Earlier threads:
Justice for hire? Giant insurer pays government lawyers to pursue fraud charges September 9, 2015
Follow-up: Officials Want Review of Privately Funded Prosecutions September 14, 2015
Follow-up: Travis County Can't Stop Privately Funded Prosecutions September 23, 2015
Follow-up: Travis County Prosecutor-For-Hire Deal with Texas Mutual Ins. Co. Postponed September 30, 2015
